WRITINGS OF SAl\•I HOUSTON, 1846
466
of the whole ground as can the Executive. The Congress is in session temporarily; he is perpetually present at the seat of government, ready to watch the public interests as they change. We remain here but a few months and then return to private life; but the Executive is constantly. present watching every emergency. We should therefore leave him not only unembar- rassed, but uninfluenced. Allusion has been made to the subject of the negotiations between the United States and Texas, and claiming some little identity with these transactions, I may have a right to correct any errors that may exist on this subject before they are re- ceived as history by the public mind. They were interesting then, and it may be that they are so still. Therefore I will endeavor here to give some account of the progress of events as they occurred. The authorities of Texas in 1836 proposed annexation to the Union of the United States. This was done in obedience to the express will of the people of that country, and after the fullest expression of that will had been given. The proposition was rejected by this government, though the desires of Texas continued the application for a considerable length of time; until, finding there was no hope of admission, the executive of Texas ordered the withdrawal of the proposition for annexation. In the mean time the independence of Texas had been 1·ecognized by the United States. In December, 1838, when a new administra- tion came into power [in Texas], the Executive, in his inaugural address, denounced the measure of annexation, and it was not revided for three years, rior were any measures taken for its effectuation. During this time a treaty was negotiated between England and Texas, in which the latter proffered to give five millions of dollars to England if she would guarantee the recogni- tion of the independence of Texas by Mexico. England did not succeed; but the misfortunes of Texas accumulated to an extent which I will not here describe. In December, 1841, that administration expired, and a new one commenced. The first leading act of the new administration was to appoint a minister to the government of the United States, with instructions to sound it on the subject of annexation; and, if it met with a favorable reception, that negotiations should be immediately opened. The minister (Mr. Riley) hastened to present the subject to the consideration of this government. It was received without any indication of favor; and though some- what i~portunate in the discharge of his duty on the subject, he
·' I
Powered by FlippingBook